www.plu.edu/healthsciences/
The Health Sciences Committee in the Division of Natural Sciences advises students aspiring to careers in the health sciences. Students having such interests are encouraged to obtain a health sciences advisor early in their program. Summarized below are pre-professional requirements for many health science areas; additional information is available through the Health Science Committee.
Dentistry, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine
The overwhelming majority of students entering the professional schools for these careers have earned baccalaureate degrees, securing a broad educational background in the process. This background includes a thorough preparation in the sciences as well as study in the social sciences and the humanities. There are no pre-professional majors for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine at PLU; rather students should select the major which best matches their interests and which best prepares them for alternative careers. In addition to the general university requirements and the courses needed to complete the student’s major, the following are generally required for admission to the professional program:
- BIOL 225, 226, 330
- CHEM 115, 116, 331, and 332 (all with laboratories)
- MATH 140
- PHYS 125 and 126 or PHYS 153 and 154 (with appropriate laboratories)
- Check with a health science advisor for exceptions or for additions suggested by specific professional schools.
Medical Technology
The University no longer offers a medical technology degree, but continues to provide academic preparation suitable for admission to medical technology, hematology, and clinical chemistry programs. Minimal requirements include:
- BIOL 225, 226, 330, 342, 445, 448
- CHEM 115, 116, 331 (with 333 lab), 332 (with 334 lab)
- MATH 140
- Recommended courses include: BIOL 348, 441; CHEM 403; PHYS 125, 126, 135, 136.
Optometry
Although two years of pre-optometry study is the minimum required, most students accepted by a school of optometry have completed at least three years of undergraduate work. A large percentage of students accepted by schools of optometry have earned a baccalaureate degree. For those students who have not completed a baccalaureate degree, completion of such a degree must be done in conjunction with optometry professional studies.
The requirements for admission to the schools of optometry vary. However, the basic science and mathematics requirements are generally uniform and include:
- BIOL 225, 226, 330
- CHEM 115, 116, 331 (with 333 lab), 332 (with 334 lab)
- One year of college mathematics, including calculus (at least through MATH 151)
- PHYS 125 and 126 or PHYS 153 and 154 (with appropriate laboratories)
In addition, each school of optometry has its own specific requirements. Check with a health science advisor.
Pharmacy
Although the pre-pharmacy requirements for individual schools vary (check with a health science advisor), the following courses are usually required: one year of general chemistry with laboratory; one year of organic chemistry with laboratory; college-level mathematics (often including calculus); one year of English composition. Other courses often required include microbiology, analytical chemistry, statistics and introductory courses in communication, economics, and political science. For example, the University of Washington School of Pharmacy has approved the following courses as being equivalent to the first two years of its program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree:
- BIOL 225, 226, 201 or 342
- CHEM 115, 116, 331 (with 333 lab), 332 (with 334 or 336 lab)
- MATH 128 or 151; STAT 231
- WRIT 101
A second course in writing; electives from humanities and social sciences. Total credits should not be fewer than 60 semester hours.
Physical Therapy
Acceptance to schools of physical therapy has become increasingly competitive in recent years, and students interested in physical therapy are strongly encouraged to meet with a health science advisor as early as possible to determine prerequisites for specific schools. All physical therapy programs are doctoral programs. Therefore, potential applicants should plan on completing a baccalaureate degree in conjunction with satisfying admission requirements. The School of Physical Education offers a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education with a pre-physical therapy track.
The requirements for admission to schools of physical therapy vary. However the basic science and mathematics requirements are generally uniform and include:
- BIOL 225, 226, 330
- CHEM 115, 116, 331; MATH 140; PHYS 125 and 126 (with laboratories)
In addition to the introductory biology sequence, applicants must complete courses in anatomy and physiology. This admission requirement is often met by either the combination of BIOL 205 and 206 or the combination BIOL 352 and 453.
Biology majors should take BIOL 352 and 453, the clear preference of several schools of physical therapy. In addition to the science and mathematics requirements, the various schools have specific social science and humanities requirements.
Check with a health science advisor regarding these requirements.